Automatic dump box



March 13, 1956 v. H. NEEDHAM 2,738,222

AUTOMATIC DUMP BOX Filed Dec. 15, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l 28 'F f I I6 74 Van H. Need/ram a INVENTOR.

BY W Mm March 13, 1956 v. H. NEEDHAM 2,738,222

AUTOMATIC DUMP BOX Filed Dec. 15, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet '2 Fig. 2

Von "H. Need/2am INVENTOR.

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U t d S te Pa AUTOMATIC DUMP BOX Von H. Needham, Lincoln Park, Mich. Application December 15 1952, Serial No. 325,987

Claims. (Cl. 293-14 This invention relates to automatic dumping mechanism and more particularly to an automatic dump boxfor use in conjunction with a conventional industrial lift truck.

A primary object of this invention resides in the provision of an'automatic dump box requiring a minimumof manual manipulation.

"Another' object is to provide an automatic dump box actuated in response to a tipping or tilting action.

Still another object is to provide stop means to insure a positive and effective dumping. V

A further object is to provide a latching means to maintain the dump box in'proper position for loading.

These, together. with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent, reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device in one position with portions broken away to show the latching mechanism;

Figure 2 is another side elevation showing the device in dumping position;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the dump box and frame; I

Figure 4 is a plan view of the device;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the dump frame; and

Figure 6 is a transverse section taken substantially along line 66 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the reference character 10 designates generally a dump frame having longitudinal side rails 12 of channel-shaped cross section connected by transverse frame members 14, 16, 18, as clearly shown in Figure 5. With further reference to Figure 6,

it will be seen that the transverse frame members are provided in vertically spaced pairs. A further transverse frame member 20 is disposed in inclined relation upon the forward end of the side rails 12 which are conveniently bevelled, as at 22, for this purpose. Member 20 constitutes an abutment apron, as will presently appear, and the top edge of this apron is flush with the top portions of the side rails.

Attention is now directed more particularly to Figure 3 in which it will be seen that each side rail comprises an upper flange 24 and a lower flange 26 which constitute upper and lower tracks respectively. Mounted upon the frame 10 is a dump box indicated generally 28 and comprising spaced side walls 30, rear wall 32, bottom wall 34 and inclined front wall 36. It will be noted that the top edge of the front wall 36 is disposed lower than the top edges of the side and rear walls to provide an opening convenient in both loading and unloading the dump box.

From Figure 6, it will appear that the side walls 30 extend below the bottom 34 and are each provided with vertical plates 38 suitably secured thereto, as by welds. Also secured to the side walls and to the plates are blocks 40 having horizontal threaded bores into which the threaded axles 42 are received. Each axle is formed with a bearing portion 44 and a retaining head 46 which cooperate to journal a wheel 48 thereon, as is readily apparent. Holes 49, in the side rails, are adapted to receive the axles during assembly of the device. Additionally, the axles are provided with axial bores, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 6, and may be provided with grease nipples (not shown) at the outer ends of the axles to lubricate the bearing surfaces thereof, as is conventional.

The bottom 34 has pairs of brackets 50 depending therefrom'and journalling wheels 52 in a well known manner. Therefore, with the wheels 48 in engagement with the lower tracks 26 and wheels 52 engaging upper tracks 24, the dump box 28 is freely movable along the frame 10 within the limits of front and rear stop members 54 and 56, respectively, secured to the side rails 12.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, a lift truck 58 includes an elevator frame 60 and an elevator 62 having forks 64 extending therefrom. A piston and cylinder assembly 66, extending between the main portion 58 of the truck and the frame '60, imparts tilting motion to 'such frame. To prevent excessive rearward tilting of the elevator frame, stop members 70 are disposed on adjacent portions of the frame and truck, as clearly shown. Conventionally, the truck has front wheels 72 and rear wheels (not shown) which may be power drivenand, of course, suitable power means (not shown) are provided to elevate the forks 64 on the frame 60. Such ,trucks are well known, and since the same forms nopart of this invention, additional description thereof is not'deeme'd necessary, sufiicient structure having been described for proper understanding.

In order to attach the dumping mechanism to the truck, the dump frame 10 has inverted longitudinal channels 74 secured to the underside of upper transverse frame members 14, 16 and 18. These channels receive the forks 64 so that the entire dump assembly may be elevated thereby and transported as a forward extension of the truck. To assist in moving the dump assembly when unattached, caster wheels 76 are secured to each corner of frame 10.

As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 5, a latching mechanism comprising a latch rod 78 extends through brackets 80, 82 and frame member 14 to maintain the box 28 rigidly on frame 10. A pin 84 extends perpendicularly through the lower end of rod 78 and when such end is inserted through key-slot 86 and rotated approximately the box will be securely latched to the frame. Spring 88 normally urges the latching rod upwardly out of latching position.

Inoperation, the dump box is latched to the frame and material to be moved is loaded into the box and, when desired, the frame 10 is elevated by forks 64 and the entire assembly may be transported to any desired dumping point. The transporting position would normally be assumed with the frame tilted slightly rearward, as in Figure 1. When it is desired to dump, it is merely necessary to tilt the elevator forwardly to correspondingly incline the dump frame and release the latching mechanism. Thereupon, the dump boxwill roll on its wheels along the tracks provided by frame 10 until wheels 48 engage the forward stop members 54 whence inertia of the box and its contents will normally be suflicient to fulcrum the box about the axles 42 to a dumping position, as shown in Figure 2. In the dumping position, it is usually advisable to engage the forward caster wheels 76 with the floor or supporting surface. As shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, the apron 20 and front wall 36 abut when in the dumped position to provide a limit stop for fulcrum movement about the axles 42.

To return the box to a loading position, it is merely necessary to tilt the elevator frame rearwardly, whereupon the box will pivot rearwardly about axles 42 and thence roll rearwardly to a position with wheels 48' in engage- Patented Mar. 13,1956

ment'with' s'to'p member5 6. 'Latching rod 78 may then transported for further material handling operations.

For the purpose of assembling and disassembling the wheels '48, axle" retainin'gheads are referably formed with ahexagonal recess therein" so theta-suitable wrench may be inserted through side i'ail h01e s' 19intosuch recesses {01" installing Oi" removin 'rhe"ax1es.

'Frbin the foregoin the construction" and" operation Of thedvie 'Will be readily understood and 'fuitl'il explanatio'n'is believed to be unnecessary. 7 However, since numerous modifications and changes "will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is "not'de'sired' to limit the invention to the exact'constiuctionsliownaiid described, and aeeording'ly' all suitable'modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, "falling within the'scopeof' the appended'c'laims.

What is'cIaimed as new isasfollows:

I 1. In combination "witha 'lifttruek ineluding a' ti-ltable lift assembly, an automatic dampin assembly: movable withsaid 'truc'k cc'irnprisiriga dump box frame including a lurality of rail members, longitudinally disposed "stop rhan'son said rail'rnembers,' mea'nson' said frame in engagement with said lift assembly, and a dump boxin'cludirig means thereonreciprocably'aiid' pivotally carriedby s'a'idrail members between 'said' stopinembe'rsfor automatic dumping ofsaid dump 'box upon tilting 'niovement of said lift assembly.

12. In the combination as set'forth inclaiml wherein latch means are provided betweensaid' "frame aiidduin 15025 for restrainingsaid dump boxaga'instreeiproeable and pivotal movement 011 said frame.

3. In the combinationas set forth in claim 1 wherein "said rail members'comprise'a plurality'of relativelyparallel rails including thereon parallel longitudinal flanges, said dump box including wheel means reciprocably engageable on an outer surface of one of said parallel longitudinal flanges and additional wheel means reciprocably and pivotally contained between said parallel flanges.

4. In the combination asset-forth in claim 3 wherein said stop means are longitudinally-disposed between said parallel longitudinal flanges.

5. In the combination as set -fort-h-irr claim '4 wherein latch means are provided between'said frame-and dump box for restraining said dump box against reciprocable and pivotal movement onsaidframe.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 577,913 Chrissinger- .t.l.. ...a.r Mar.- 2,=1897 797,164 Wurdisch--flfinllhfi-'Aug.-15,--19Q5 1,252,896 Fontaine ....t Ian.-8,--1918 1,319,118 Rushet al.- -a..' -Oc t. 21,-1919 1,383,498 Taylor- ..snausssfl July 5f-1921 1,633,364 Carvalho "an-" June- 21,1927 1,753,756 Small Apr.-8, 1930 1,755,803 Anthony A i 22;- 1930 2,527,369 Meyer Qct.-20,-19 50 2,569,740 Abbe .t -.r Oct.2,1951 2,582,759 --Sass a..-. l t Jan. -l5, 1952 2,601,163 Miller s 11111647, 1952 i FOREIGN PATENTS 42,963 Switzerland "Mar."10,' 1908 

